Gun turret assembly

ABSTRACT

A weapons assembly that includes a turret; a turret cage attached to and being disposed underneath the turret; a plurality of weapons supported in the turret, each weapon having a barrel and a belt magazine received in part in the turret and in part in the turret cage. The belt magazine has a loading belt and a plurality of horizontally disposed, ammunition-accommodating container tubes attached to the loading belt. The turret containing the plurality of barrels is vertically movable to an elevated position to provide up to an unimpeded 360 degree field of fire.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a weapons assembly and is of the type whichhas a gun turret, a weapon supported in the turret, a turret cage and aloading device for transporting ammunition to the weapon in the turret.

For storing ammunition in a magazine in an armored vehicle, it is known,for example, from German Offenlegungsschrift (application publishedwithout examination) No. 34 3'588 to store ammunition in a region of theturret and to load ammunition into the weapon by a loading device. It isa disadvantage that the stored ammunition is loaded manually into theweapon, so that substantial space must be provided to allow the loaderto feed ammunition to the turret weapon.

The above disadvantages may also be found in armored vehicles in whichthe ammunition magazine is arranged laterally of the weapon, asdisclosed, for example, in German Patent No. 2,501,426.

Further, as disclosed in German Patent No. 1,301,742, when theammunition is disposed partially in the lower region of the turret,there is the disadvantage that the turret cage must have a substantialvolume because the ammunition is swung by a loading device from a lowerreceiving position to a location behind the breech ring of the weapon.

It is an object of the invention to provide greater facility in the useand protective capacity of gun turrets. Another object is to provide animproved weapons assembly in the turret where more ammunition may bemagazined than in conventional weapons turrets of comparable dimensionswithout, however, adversely affecting the firing speed of the weaponsassembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects the inventionprovides a weapons assembly for a turret disposed above a turret cage; aplurality of weapons supported in the turret, each weapon having abarrel; and a plurality of belt magazines received in part in the turretand in part in the turret cage.

Each belt magazine has a loading belt and a plurality of horizontallydisposed, ammunition-accommodating container tubes attached to theloading belt. The belt magazine further has a receiving position abovethe turret cage for loading into an associated weapon.

A gun turret structured according to the invention not only permits thefiring of a relatively large number of shots while the dimensions of theturret cage are maintained relatively small, but, because of simplemotion sequence, a relatively high firing frequency may be achieved.

An assembly of the invention includes (a) a turret; (b) a turret cagedisposed underneath the turret; and (c) a plurality of weapon supportedin the turret, each having a barrel defining a barrel axis.

In accordance with one aspect of the assembly, the turret is rotatablebeyond 90 degrees, up to 360 degrees.

In accordance with another aspect of the assembly the turret can beraised and lowered, and the turret can be moved transversely, eitherfrom front to back of the turret cage, or side to side.

The assembly can include a belt magazine received in part in the turretand in part in the turret cage; with the belt magazine having a loadingbelt and a plurality of horizontally disposed, ammunition-accommodatingcontainer tubes.

A device can load ammunition from the belt, and the turret can beelevatable from a flush position with the turret cage to a positionabove the turret cage.

The turret can be mounted on a vehicle, which can be armored.

In a method of the invention for providing a multipurpose assembly, thesteps include providing a turret; disposing a turret cage underneath theturret; and supporting a plurality of weapons in the turret, each weaponhaving a barrel defining a barrel axis. The method can further includethe step of rotating the turret beyond 80 degrees, up to 360 degrees.

The method can also include the step of raising the turret, lowering theturret, moving it from side-to-side and front-to-back of a turret cage.

The method can further include the step of receiving a belt magazine inpart in the turret and in part in the turret cage, with the beltmagazine having a loading belt and a plurality of horizontally disposed,ammunition-accommodating container tubes attached to the loading belt.

The method also includes loading ammunition from the belt.

In a method of the invention for manufacturing a multipurpose assembly,the steps include providing a turret with multiple weapons disposedabove a turret cage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic, partially in section, side elevational view of aweapons assembly according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing elevation of the weaponsassembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative structure of FIGS. 1 and2 for rotation of the weapons assembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a furtherembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings FIG. 1 shows an assemblage 10 including agun turret 11 having a plurality of weapons 12, with only weapons 12-1,12-2 and 12-3 visible in FIG. 1. Each weapon 12 has a barrel 12 b and isfed by a magazine 12 m from a storage container 13 within a turret cage14 upon which the turret 11 is positioned.

Also mounted in the turret cage 14 is a telescopically expandable column15, by which the turret 11 can be raided and lowered as shown in FIG. 2.

The firing of the weapons 12, which in FIGS. 1 and 2 are machine guns12-1, 12-2 and 12-3 for firing bullets from cartridges 12 c on themagazine 12 m, is controlled electronically by signals S1, S2 and S3from a control box 16, which also controls the raising and lowering ofthe column 15 by signals S4.

While the weapons shown in the FIGS are machine guns, it will beappreciated that other weapons may be used in the turret 11. In additionthe turret cage 14 may be part of a vehicle, which can be armored inconventional fashion.

As shown in FIG. 2, the turret 11 may be raised above the turret cage14. A signal S4 sent from the controller 16 causes the column segment15-1 to rise and pull the associated segments 15-2 and 15-3 upwardly.The extent to which the rise of the segments 15-1 thru 15-3 takes place,is determined by the controller 16.

In order to provide the turret 11 with greater flexibility, it can berotated up to 360 degrees. To accomplish the rotation, the base of theturret 11 is provided with a toothed ring 17 that is engaged by a gear18, which is rotatable under the operation of the controller 16 by thesending of a control signal S5. When the gear 18 is rotated in aclockwise direction, the turret turns to the right, symbolized by thearrow R. Conversely, when the gear 18 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection, the turret 11 turns to the left, symbolized by the arrow L.

For additional flexibility, as shown in FIG. 4, the turret cage 14 canhave channels to permit the turret 11 to be moved transversely. In FIG.4 the channel 14C1 permits the column 15 to move in the directionindicated by the arrow C1. Similarly, the channel 14C2 permits thecolumn 15 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow C2.

Movement of the column 15 illustratively is achieved by an assemblage19, under the control of a signal S6 from the controller 16, by havingthe column 15 mounted on a moveable base 19 b. A rotatable track 19 c,moving clockwise, advances the column 15 in the direction F into thechannel 14C2. Counterclockwise rotation of the track 19 c moves thecolumn 15 in the backward direction B so that the column 15 can enterthe opposite channel 14C1. It will be appreciated that the transversemovement of the column 15 can be accomplished in a wide variety of otherways.

It will be understood that the above description of the presentinvention is susceptible to various other modifications, changes andadaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

1. An assembly comprising (a) a turret; (b) a turret cage disposedunderneath said turret; and (c) a plurality of weapons supported in saidturret, each having a barrel defining a barrel axis;
 2. An assembly asdefined in claim 1 further including (d) means for rotating said turret.3. An assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said turret is rotatable upto 360 degrees.
 4. An assembly as defined in claim 1 further including(e) means for raising and lowering said turret.
 5. An assembly asdefined in claim 1 further including (f) means for transversely movingsaid turret.
 6. An assembly as defined in claim 1 further including (g)a belt magazine received in part in said turret and in part in saidturret cage; said belt magazine having a loading belt and a plurality ofhorizontally disposed, ammunition-accommodating container tubes attachedto said loading belt.
 7. An assembly as defined in claim 6 furtherincluding (h) a device for loading ammunition from said belt.
 8. Theassembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said turret is elevatable from aflush position with said turret cage to a position above said turretcage.
 9. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said turret ismounted on a vehicle.
 10. The assembly as defined in claim 5, whereinsaid vehicle is armored.
 11. A method of providing a multipurposeassembly comprising the steps of (a) providing a turret; (b) disposing aturret cage underneath said turret; and (c) supporting a plurality ofweapons in said turret, each having a barrel defining a barrel axis. 12.The method of claim 11 further including the step of (d) rotating saidturret beyond 80 degrees.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said turretis rotatable up to 360 degrees.
 14. The method as defined in claim 11further including the step of (e) raising said turret.
 15. The method ofclaim 11 further including the step of (f) lowering said turret.
 16. Themethod of claim 11 further including the step of (g) receiving a beltmagazine in part in said turret and in part in said turret cage; saidbelt magazine having a loading belt and a plurality of horizontallydisposed, ammunition-accommodating container tubes attached to saidloading belt.
 17. The method of claim 16 further including the step of(h) loading ammunition from said belt.
 18. A method of manufacturing amultipurpose assembly comprising the steps of (a) providing a turret;(b) disposing a turret cage below said turret; and (c) supporting aplurality of weapon in said turret, each having a barrel defining abarrel axis.
 19. The method of claim 18 further including the step of(d) providing for the rotation of said turret beyond 90 degrees.
 20. Themethod of claim 18 further including the step of (e) providing for thetranslation of said turret.